ALBAWABA – Apparently, Turkish warships are moving toward Israeli naval vessels and ordering them to use certain maritime routes. Tensions between Turkey and Israel seem to be spilling over in the Mediterranean.
Citing sources, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said the encounters come amid a marked expansion of Turkey’s military presence throughout the Mediterranean.
The Israeli report said the Turkish Navy has increased the deployment of warships and that there are frequent naval exercises and shows of force in the area.
Israel Raises Navy Alertness
The developments have reportedly led the Israeli Navy to increase its level of readiness, amid concerns that increasing friction at sea could eventually escalate into a more serious confrontation.
Israeli naval officials have been closely watching Turkey for months, as the latter has been conducting more military exercises, deployments and displays of naval power in the Mediterranean and important shipping lanes.
Israeli preparations reportedly include the possibility of an incident between the two navies in operations.
But Israeli security officials seem eager to prevent tensions from boiling over into a direct confrontation.
A security source told Israel’s Reshet Bet radio that Israel has “no desire to turn Turkey into an enemy” and that secret channels of communication are still open between the two countries to exchange messages and avoid potentially dangerous friction.
Mediterranean Mediterranean Political Tensions Spill Over
The naval developments come amid increasingly strained relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
Turkey has, on several occasions, condemned the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for its policies and military operations in the Gaza Strip, warning of their wider impact on regional stability.
Although there has been an escalation in military activity and a more heated rhetoric, the reported backchannels suggest both sides are still trying to keep their political standoff from becoming an actual military confrontation.
But for now, Turkish and Israeli navies have increased their presence in the Mediterranean, adding another potential flashpoint to an already volatile region.
